hacked from new account system

ok first i got hacked you can say my fault for not using tranfer ok lost luna city pac vendor & account all stripped over bill in rares and gold ok they give 6 free months and account back, buil back up then bang get nice keep on ice take all my stuff from second account to keep to remodel hmm log in and yep same guy did it the same way called up gave code and they gave it to him again but here is the kicker tier 3 says if he trys it again hes banned so he did it again took keep and what did they do nothing !!! im the guy who had the castle outside luna city pac they gave to me to say there sorry lmao. ok fine log in the morn and boom all gone same guy has it but the kicker is this is not tha same account. so i look and email says account changed !!! will someone please tell me how you can go to account management and change it ? so im looking into a lawsuit to sue ea as they did not protect my rights as agreed in the tos so its on them i just hope it does not fold the game. the idiots they running this thing is a joke, 11 years of collecting playing and met some great peeps here but there are to many assholes hacking it and ea could care less !!! will se how they react to a lawsuit lmao thanx all it has been a hoot for many years but i just cant rebuild it all for the third time, please excuse writing im disabled and take a bit of time to do this , again thanx to all those who just play and to all ive met!! good bye

Stratics Veteran

Sounds about right for EA. I lost two accounts over the last couple of months, one thats vanished completely with the Migration (Luckilly it had nothing much on it) and the other which someone else has linked to thier own master EA account. I've done everything I can to get it back but short of calling the states (which I cant do) its gone. Over two months on and I've given up hope, the account is probably stripped clean now. Yeah thanks EA for caring.

Stratics Veteran

Sorry for the loss. But before anything I would suggest don't bother with a lawsuit as it isn't going to go anywhere. Your experience doesn't sound much different than any other account hacking. If you didn't use the safe transfer system it really isn't EA's fault, your experience is why they have that system. (Granted I am unsure if they still have that system after the account mergers)

However what in this experience makes you think it's because of the new account system? I admit I had a little trouble following your post but it sounds like they have access to your email or account. Did this account really belong to someone else beforehand? If so is it under your master account and email now? If so, did your change the account password after getting the account back?

I suggest changing the email for it, password for the account and the master account.

Stratics Veteran

Seems like it only takes the account name and email (or good story of changed email address) to get the account password, from the lower level of customer service.

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I know for UO, at least in the past, it simply emails your password if you forget it by clinking the appropriate link without even have to call. If that's how this game still does it then as long as the hacker can access the email then that's a problem.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

Sounds like the OP bought an account from someone and didn't use the account transfer option. The original account creator keeps calling EA with the code used to create the account and gets it handed back to them and then he strips it.

1) use the account transfer option.
2) once you know the account isn't secure, why would anybody spend more time on it?
3) how many times? sheeesh

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

Personally, I think that the charge for the transfer option is too high. If it was reduced to, say, 10.00 $ it would be more used and less problems and trouble for Customer Service and players would show up..........

Stratics VeteranAlumniStratics Legend

Sounds like the OP bought an account from someone and didn't use the account transfer option. The original account creator keeps calling EA with the code used to create the account and gets it handed back to them and then he strips it.

1) use the account transfer option.
2) once you know the account isn't secure, why would anybody spend more time on it?
3) how many times? sheeesh

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I read here on stratics the account transfer thing has been discontinued and it is now "illegal" to transfer/sell accounts.

Stratics Veteran

I read here on stratics the account transfer thing has been discontinued and it is now "illegal" to transfer/sell accounts.

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You sure you're not confusing that illegal part with stratics simply not allowing any cash transaction postings on the forum? Because I have absoutely no recollection of selling accounts ever being illegalized.

Stratics VeteranAlumniStratics Legend

I read here on stratics the account transfer thing has been discontinued and it is now "illegal" to transfer/sell accounts.

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You sure you're not confusing that illegal part with stratics simply not allowing any cash transaction postings on the forum? Because I have absoutely no recollection of selling accounts ever being illegalized.

Stratics Veteran

Sounds like the OP bought an account from someone and didn't use the account transfer option. The original account creator keeps calling EA with the code used to create the account and gets it handed back to them and then he strips it.

1) use the account transfer option.
2) once you know the account isn't secure, why would anybody spend more time on it?
3) how many times? sheeesh

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I think the account transfer process requires some kind of cooperation from the selling party.

Sounds like the OP bought an account from someone and didn't use the account transfer option. The original account creator keeps calling EA with the code used to create the account and gets it handed back to them and then he strips it.

1) use the account transfer option.
2) once you know the account isn't secure, why would anybody spend more time on it?
3) how many times? sheeesh

Stratics Veteran

This only works if you didn't buy the account before the account transfer service existed.

There were at least several years at the beginning of UO where the "Secure Account Access Transfer System" was not a thing that existed.

Which means someone could have sold or given you an account in this period, and if they still have the account name they can now use the new account management system and a little social engineering to promptly rob you blind.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

I dont know about everyone else but I check in on my vendors and accounts on a daily basis.
It's a rare day I dont log in on at least 1 account to run feeding fish and watering plants.

For someone to hack in to this persons account it takes more then just knowing the account name.

Receintly I found an account I had missed linking (gasp! in my own diffence I do have alot to keep track of) I had trouble getting the system to take the new e mail and had to call CS.
I swear I was talking to a very young person, but he did know the system he was trained in.
I have another account that was given me a few years ago and never changed any details of the account as I had done the other 2 my friend gave me... that account is not able to be gotten by me now. (much of the info required for it is unknown to me)
To access the account he required alot more then just my name...

Who ever hacked her knew alot about her info. So I assume the original creator of the account was at play here. And because she had been linked from dealings with the CS the records showed where changes were made to that account. With the original CD key, the thief had full access to the accounts and any linked to it. Including the castle account they gave her for apeasement.

If not the original owner, then someone she is overly friendly enough to share info has their fingers on it. Let me tell you this much...
Dont put it past a kid to take out their anger on the owner to get rid of a game that they love to play in a fit of spite for a punishment given. Had a friends kid give all his houses away... toss all his belongings and gold at the bank floor and delete his entire characters from his account. Just cause her dad wouldnt stop for 5 minutes to give her some money for a party she wanted to go to. (He had passwords written on blotter on his desk) It took her 5 minutes to do it all, while he was in the shower!

Stratics Veteran

I read here on stratics the account transfer thing has been discontinued and it is now "illegal" to transfer/sell accounts.

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You sure you're not confusing that illegal part with stratics simply not allowing any cash transaction postings on the forum? Because I have absoutely no recollection of selling accounts ever being illegalized.

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- Unless expressly authorized by EA, you may not sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer your Account or any personal access to EA Services, Content or Entitlements, including by use of auction websites.

Stratics Veteran

- Unless expressly authorized by EA, you may not sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer your Account or any personal access to EA Services, Content or Entitlements, including by use of auction websites.

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That to me sounds like if you go through EA you can still transfer your account.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

- Unless expressly authorized by EA, you may not sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer your Account or any personal access to EA Services, Content or Entitlements, including by use of auction websites.

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That to me sounds like if you go through EA you can still transfer your account.

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That would be correct except that there is currently no method or publicly known option to do this.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

I think in a few posts up, someone said these are new TOS. If so, would those new terms apply to an account that was purchase many years ago when this was all legal and what not?

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I doubt it. I think EA changed the account transfer policy to simplify culpability on their end. If they say you can't trade or sell accounts and you do anyway, then, whatever happens after that fact is on you not them. You get screwed, even if it's their fault, they aren't responsible.

On that note, I'm still shocked they gave this player a castle and I'm just as amazed nobody else here has even commented on it besides me.

I mean you all really have no problem and nothing to say about it. If they can and will hand out a castle for this then it seems to me they owe several hundred if not thousands of players a castle for getting shafted for one reason or another in the past. Interesting precedent they've set here.

Stratics Veteran

I think in a few posts up, someone said these are new TOS. If so, would those new terms apply to an account that was purchase many years ago when this was all legal and what not?

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It could be argued that what took place before the new TOS is unaffected because when you bought/sold an account from another you were following a different TOS. But the question would then be what did the old TOS say about selling/transferring accounts? Somehow I think it will say the same thing though (can't find a copy of the old one).

Regardless the new TOS simply implies that as long as it done through EA (such as the account transfer system) it is considered legal. Or at least as long as it ultimately passed through the account transfer system it is legal.

But as pointed out above by Zane its likely nothing more than an attempt to clear themselves if anything goes wrong. Such as the case in this thread.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

What i cannot understand is why EA would hand over an account that someone else is paying the bills for..thats to say...on easy check by EA...''can you just confirm your bank details please''???? iam not getting this.....

Stratics Veteran

What i cannot understand is why EA would hand over an account that someone else is paying the bills for..thats to say...on easy check by EA...''can you just confirm your bank details please''???? iam not getting this.....

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Most MMOs, even WoW, go by the original cd-key and typically no one but the owner of the account will have this. This why they had an official account transfer system to avoid having the person who sold the account hijack it later on using the cd-key.

This is good because if someone hacks your account it could be easy for them to change the billing information if they wanted to try and keep the account.

This is good because if someone hacks your account it could be easy for them to change the billing information if they wanted to try and keep the account.

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But monthly payment records are kept for more then 1 month, EA see's X account has been paid by Timmy Jones by Visa XXXX XXXX XXXX 5897 for 3+ years & all of a sudden within the last 2 days it has changed to Sam Drake with Master Card XXXX XXXX XXXX 9558 that SHOULD SAY TO EA, duh this acct has been modified & the info you request is unavailable unless you can verify the last valid CC# used to pay this account for the last X years/months. very simple & the appropriate way it SHOULD be done. No other Co I know of will just give out passwords/change acct info just because you SAYS it's yours and you forgot.... if so I'll call the closest bank to William Henry "Bill" Gates III and ask for my accounts to be closed & I'll be in to pick up the cash.... ya right

Stratics Veteran

But monthly payment records are kept for more then 1 month, EA see's X account has been paid by Timmy Jones by Visa XXXX XXXX XXXX 5897 for 3+ years & all of a sudden within the last 2 days it has changed to Sam Drake with Master Card XXXX XXXX XXXX 9558 that SHOULD SAY TO EA, duh this acct has been modified & the info you request is unavailable unless you can verify the last valid CC# used to pay this account for the last X years/months. very simple & the appropriate way it SHOULD be done. No other Co I know of will just give out passwords/change acct info just because you SAYS it's yours and you forgot.... if so I'll call the closest bank to William Henry "Bill" Gates III and ask for my accounts to be closed & I'll be in to pick up the cash.... ya right

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Perhaps read the entire post you're quoting from? I am not talking about getting account info just because someone says they forgot it but to someone who has the CD KEY.

That's kind of the idea going on here. You sell an account from one person to another without the secure trade UO had offered, original seller still has the cd key and can regain access to the account that way. No one is saying anything about getting a regaining an account just because you say it's yours and you forgot.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

2 years ago the Original Owner of one of my purchased accounts from e bay contacted me ingame. He recognized the Character I was on. His question was very plane and to the point: do I still use the account he sold me? If not he still had the cd key and was going to go retrieve the account from EA. I told him no its one of my main accounts and that I used it all the time. Noah was a good guy when I bought that account and sent me the CD and its key code in the mail that week. He was honest and asked me, but alot of people dont have the common sence of a nat and just go and do it even though they know its wrong.

Even in this day and age UO still has a value thought very deminished... the cost of her house in luna or that castle being in malas.... come on even on a dead shard would sell for $$ cash.

I think if it was not a disgruntled kid in the home, or close friend out to reek havoc on the OP. The main reason was then money.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

i lost account because i could not access the ISP from my first email in 1997 and i could not link it. $1,500 worth of items. luckily i still have 2 more of my accounts that are of the same age, however the new system they put in screwed a lot of people over.

I asked them even if they were gonna not change the email linked to the account to atleast lock it. Or give me 30 days fo game time so i could get my stuff of it.

Some of you people whine very well and always catch a break. Anymore it is not even worth trying.

I doubt it. I think EA changed the account transfer policy to simplify culpability on their end. If they say you can't trade or sell accounts and you do anyway, then, whatever happens after that fact is on you not them. You get screwed, even if it's their fault, they aren't responsible.

On that note, I'm still shocked they gave this player a castle and I'm just as amazed nobody else here has even commented on it besides me.

I mean you all really have no problem and nothing to say about it. If they can and will hand out a castle for this then it seems to me they owe several hundred if not thousands of players a castle for getting shafted for one reason or another in the past. Interesting precedent they've set here.

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I presume this happens more often than you think. Just not so blatant.

Stratics Veteran

Game codes are the CD keys and are very specific to each account. Even accounts that are made online without an actual CD are assigned a key. WoW uses cd keys as well as many other MMOs. They are the easiest and quickest way to recover an account if you ever forget any information or get hacked.

But monthly payment records are kept for more then 1 month, EA see's X account has been paid by Timmy Jones by Visa XXXX XXXX XXXX 5897 for 3+ years & all of a sudden within the last 2 days it has changed to Sam Drake with Master Card XXXX XXXX XXXX 9558 that SHOULD SAY TO EA, duh this acct has been modified & the info you request is unavailable unless you can verify the last valid CC# used to pay this account for the last X years/months. very simple & the appropriate way it SHOULD be done. No other Co I know of will just give out passwords/change acct info just because you SAYS it's yours and you forgot.... if so I'll call the closest bank to William Henry "Bill" Gates III and ask for my accounts to be closed & I'll be in to pick up the cash.... ya right

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Perhaps read the entire post you're quoting from? I am not talking about getting account info just because someone says they forgot it but to someone who has the CD KEY.

That's kind of the idea going on here. You sell an account from one person to another without the secure trade UO had offered, original seller still has the cd key and can regain access to the account that way. No one is saying anything about getting a regaining an account just because you say it's yours and you forgot.

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I read the other posts & PW's are being given for non CD Code callers (I know of people this has happened to, so it is happening)

I think the OP is attempting to say that the "hacker" is calling EA, and EA just hands over access to the accounts without thinking.

EA felt bad, gave the OP another account with 6 free months of game time. The "hacker" makes another call and EA gives that account to him, too, no questions asked.

EA feels bad again, gives the OP a new account with a free castle in a location you can't place a castle. The "hacker" calls up EA a third time, and they just handed him that account, too.

At least, I think that's what is trying to be conveyed here.

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If that is true then the hacker must have a great portion of the OPs information, or at least the vital information to get EA to keep turning over the account to the "hacker."

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But in all honesty & common sense, if an account has been being paid for for X years, to all of a sudden want to change the Registered name & CC info but we can't remember our PW to do this, it should ring a damn bell in someones head something is wrong. EA's CSR should have common sense enough to see this.

Game codes are the CD keys and are very specific to each account. Even accounts that are made online without an actual CD are assigned a key. WoW uses cd keys as well as many other MMOs. They are the easiest and quickest way to recover an account if you ever forget any information or get hacked.

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no what I mean is how do you know they will give anyone with an original game code or upgrade code an account w/ no other questions asked?

reason being in the early 2000's when you bought the game you got a an upgrade code and a new account code. many people either sold or gave these new account codes away to friends. it wouldn't be hard for someone to simply steal those accounts back.

I think original game code is a very very bad way to verify account ownership. actually, I would think in more cases that instead of verifying account ownership they are actually helping someone steal an account!

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

so if it works with old key codes...anyone can go to some old car boot sale or market..buy loads of olde boxes for a few dollars max then ring EA and try there luck picking up a jammed packed full account that someone as but simply discarded there box and original cd years back

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

Yes the owner of the CD key code can call up EA and try to get the account....

That code id's the "creator" of the account of record. When EA first started they identified you by that code.

The gentilman who I bought an account from back in 98 was the one who asked if i was still using mine, he had all the cd keys of accounts he built up forsale. He knew they were worth $$ not only for the age of the accounts but what ever was still on them.

Under EA's policy that CD key is the last word on who owns an account. Unless you used the transfer system that came as a way to stop remorsefull sellers from stealing back accounts that were sold legit. (It saved EA legal departments time in clearing up alot of trouble)

Back when rewards first came in and were selling for hundreds of dollars on e bay, many accounts that had been sold were reclaimed this way from the person who bought them. Ebay and EA were not happy and posted restrictions to hem off the run on reclaiming. Only if you protested too much did the legal department step in and put its foot down and freeze the account in question perma. So both lost out.

Had a old aquantence back then do this to the person he gave it to. He asked to play one last time with his friends after close to 3 years later. The friend trusted him and allowed him access to the game..... bad mistake within 1 hour the account was in his name and every thing was striped to sell. When asked why after the account was perma frozen due to the dispute placed by the owner who loaned him use. I was told it was he learned the account was worth real money and he needed a large amount of it as he was returning to school and had no other means to pay for it as fast. Back then 3 rewards could fetch 500 to a grand and the 26 mill in gold the owner had on one character at that time was worth 150$ a mill. He sold the gold he has traded to his cousins account I found out later.
Greed will make people do anything to get money. Even hurt friends who trust you.

Stratics Veteran

so if it works with old key codes...anyone can go to some old car boot sale or market..buy loads of olde boxes for a few dollars max then ring EA and try there luck picking up a jammed packed full account that someone as but simply discarded there box and original cd years back

really???? is this the case????

because if it is...wow...what a bloody farce

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Sure, if anyone can actually come upon a "boot sale" and find a UO cd case that still have a working cd key that links to an active UO account. And tis no bloody farce at all, this whole cd key thing shouldn't be any surprise to anyone as when you start your account and read some of the details it it tells you pretty clearly how important the cd key is. Or at least I remember it being clear but then I read things. This is why most people keep track of their cd key and would be incredibly unlikely that any cd key you run across at "any old boot sale or market" would even link to a loaded active account. The same goes for just about every major MMO. So long story short, don't lose your cd key.

Stratics VeteranStratics Legend

no what I mean is how do you know they will give anyone with an original game code or upgrade code an account w/ no other questions asked?

reason being in the early 2000's when you bought the game you got a an upgrade code and a new account code. many people either sold or gave these new account codes away to friends. it wouldn't be hard for someone to simply steal those accounts back.

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Yes, and that's exactly why EA set up the official account transfer program, that apparently no longer is available.

You had to pay $30 I think but it officially, in EA's records, registered the old and new owner of the account.

It also was the ONLY way known, to remove any and all marks from an account. At least as far as I know.

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